The demand for a sign
SOME of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from You.” He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.”
REFLECTION WE WISH TO SEE A SIGN. Jesus is apparently annoyed by the request of some scribes and Pharisees for a sign. They represent those who keep on asking for proofs when they have been given signs that they failed or refused to accept. And so, Jesus recalls for them the “signs” of Jonah and of the Queen of the South. If they only reflect on these, they will realize that in their midst, too, signs are being given, and that these demand of them proper action. Just as the Ninevites repented in response to the message of Jonah and the Queen of the South traveled far in order to hear Solomon’s wisdom, they ought to do something especially since in their midst stands someone who is “greater than Jonah” and “greater than Solomon.”
Indeed, it is very hard to see signs around us if we expect them to be always spectacular, coming from famous personalities. God’s signs can range from the earthshaking to the most ordinary. The important thing is for us to see God’s hand in them. And this can happen only if our hearts are open and discerning. Let us, then, practice the skill of discernment daily so that we may not be like the scribes and Pharisees — always asking for signs while the biggest SIGN is standing right before them!
Are we persons who find it hard to believe without clear signs? Are our eyes open enough as not to miss the obvious?